time out new york
Best independent shops: East Village
Opened late last year by sisters Wendy and LaRae Kangas (the “duo”), this narrow space boasts a mix of well-edited vintage and up-and-coming indie designers—with an emphasis on labels produced in the U.S., like Keller. A tightly edited selection of vintage shoes (woven leather flats and Roper boots), bags (a stunning snakeskin box bag on sale for $50) and other accessories ($35 sunglasses, circa the ‘80s with laces woven through the side) make this shop a big draw. 337 E 9th St between First and Second Aves (212-777-7044, duonyc.com)
new york magazine
Buyer’s Guide: Shopping at Duo
Sisters Wendy and LaRae Kangas opened East Village boutique Duo last month, packing the racks with independent designers and selective vintage wares for discerning downtown shoppers. A brick fireplace, antique light fixtures, and creaky wooden floorboards lend a timeworn feel to the space, and the sisters punch out price tags by hand on an antique twenties typewriter. The stock stresses local talent: Kelly Clark of Keller fashions chic ankle boots out of Williamsburg, knitwear designer (and Bendel regular) Anna Kula is based in the West Village, and Wendy Nichol crafts fringed leather jewelry from her Soho studio. Click ahead for some of our favorite new and vintage finds in the store.
refinery 29
Dynamic Duo! A New East Village Boutique Mixes Old and New
Sisters Wendy and LaRae Kangas are the gals behind new East Village boutique, Duo, a petite shop that boasts a great roster of independent designers, alongside an impressive vintage selection from the likes of Sonia Rykiel, Dior, Escada, and Moschino. Duo is all about introducing young, emerging designers to the market, and they make a point of carrying local designers who manufacture their pieces in the U.S. Pop by this cozy shop to stock up on labels like Keller, Sah Cavalcante, and Velvet Leaf, as well as a crazy good selection of vintage shoes. Duo's grand opening party is this Friday, December 12, from 6-9 pm, and Wendy and LaRae would love for Refinery29 readers to stop in and check out the goods.
psychopedia.com
Boutique Road-Test: Duo Sister Act, the Minds Behind the East Village's New Shop
As the well-known aphorism goes— two heads are better than one. And pixie-haired proprietors, Wendy and LaRae Kangas, of the new downtown boutique Duo are on a mission to prove just that. Having honed their fashion curatorial skills at other popular New York boutiques, these Minnesota natives now have their own three-week-old store, nestled amongst some of the East Village’s best shopping destinations— neighbor to Fabulous Fanny's and Local Clothing. Stocking an impressive mix of rare hand-picked vintage, from Moschino to Dior, and up-and-coming independent designers, the new girls on the block also keep a solid focus on putting local goods in the limelight— utilizing New York and Los Angeles-based brands manufactured in the United States.
Joining the sisters for a first look at the store, psychoPEDIA chatted with the blonde beauties on their favorite American-made clothing and accessories lines and other dynamic duos: